86 FARTHEST NORTH 



wished to turn back we have absolutely nothing to return 

 to, not even a iDare coast. It will be impossible to find 

 the ship, and before us lies the great unknown. But 

 there is only one road, and that lies straight ahead, right 

 through, be it land or sea, be it smooth or rough, be 

 it mere ice or ice and water. And I cannot but believe 

 that we iiiiist get through, even if we should meet with 

 the worst — viz., land and pack-ice. 



" Wednesday, February 13th. The pemmican bolsters 

 and dried-liver ])ie are now ready ; the kayaks will get 

 an excellent bedding, and I venture to say that such 

 meat-bolsters are an absolute novelty. Under each 

 kayak there are three of them, they are made to fit the 

 sledge, and, as already stated, are moulded to the shape 

 of the kayak. They weigh 100 to 120 pounds each. 

 The empty sacks weigh 2 or 3 pounds each, so that alto- 

 gether the meat (pemmican and liver pie) in these three 

 bags will weigh about 320 pounds. We each had our light 

 sleeping-bags of reindeer-skin, and we tried to sleep out 

 in them last night, but both Johansen and I found it 

 rather cold, although it was only 37 Fahr. of frost. 

 We were, perhaps, too lightly clad under the wolfskin 

 clothing ; we are making another experiment with a little 

 more on to-night. 



"Saturday, P^ebruary i6th. The outfitting is still 

 progressing; but there are various small things yet to 

 do which take time, and I do not know whether we shall 

 be ready to start on Wednesday, February 20th, as I 



